Dam fob ibbigatiito-ditches



F. E. HOOVER.

DAM FOR IRRIGATJNG BITCHES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10. m7.

1 ,3 1 5 ,726. Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

INVENTOFI ATTORNEY Tm: coLUMmA PLANOGRMIII cm, WASHINGTON, 0. c4

UNITED STATES PATENT (JFFIGE;

FRANK E. HOOVER, 0F GEBO, WYOMING.

DAM FOR IRRIGATING DITCHES.

Application filed February 10, 1917.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK E. I-Ioovnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gebo, in the county of Hot Springs and State oi lVyoming, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dams for Irrigating-Ditches, of which a the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to means for obstructing the flow of water into irrigating, ditches or the like and aims to provide a dam which may be readily applied to irrigating ditches of varied widths.

An. object of the invention is to provide a device of this character formed of oppositely disposed plates pivotally connected at their respective lower ends and adjustable laterally of each other, one of j the plates carrying means whereby it may be locked in its adjusted position fromthe opposite plate.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which may be readily inserted in the ditch and which is adapted to be partially embedded therein, and having means provided on each plate for abutment with the adjacent sides of the ditch.

With these objects in view, together with subsequent ones which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel formation, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and, particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part of the specification.

In the drawings,

Figure 1, is a topplan view illustrating the application of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the ditch taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1. This view also shows the dam in elevation and illustrates the manner in which the plates 9 are locked in theiradjusted positions, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional View takenion line 33 ofFigQ. j i

Referringnow more particularly to the drawings, wherein is illustrated the preferredembodiment of theinvention, it will be seen that the dam or water-gate, as it may be called, is composed mainly of apair of galvanizedplates or sections l and 2, res

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

Serial No. 147,846.

spectively. Each of these plates has its lower edges rounded or curved as indicated at3 and 4:, the, curves 301 the two plates at 5am provideacomparatively uniform lower, edge common to both plates. When assembled the platesl and2 are disposed laterally of 3 each other and pivotally C011?" nected at their respected lower ends by suitable means 6. When it is desiredto prevent any further flow of water through an irrigating ditch, such as indicated 'at 7, the assembled platesl and 2 are placed therein so that the sides 8 and 9 respectively of the plates cut into the adjacent sides of the ditclrand are embedded therein, while the lower edges arewin like manner forced into the bedsof the ditch, thus efiectually-obstructing the flow of the stream and permitting the'water previously admittedinto the ditch to percolate throughthe adjoining soil without being replenished. All waste material, debris and other residueof the percolating waters can thenbe readily removed from the ditch, while further flow of waterthcrein is prevented by the plates 1 and 2, however, when it is again desired to floodthe ditch, theplates can be raised from the ditch with little difliculty.

To prevent the plates from becoming too deeply embedded, each one is provided with suitable abutment means, in the present instance, comprisinga strip of angle iron 10 :fastened to one side thereof and positioned in proximity to the outer edge, the flange 11 being disposed to project outwardly at right angles "from the plate and to abut against the side of the ditch into, which that particular edge enters, thus limiting the extent to which the edge may enter. As has been before stated, abutment means of this character are provided on each of the plates 1 and 2 and, as a general rule, should follow substantially the contour or outline of that edge to which it may be adjacent. These abutments may bearranged inshorjt successive lengths or, as illustrated, they, may be in continuous strips, having their opposite lower extremities overlapped 1 and joinedbythepivot point 6. When in this form, the abutments also act, as bracing strips for the plates and add to the strength and efliciency of the structure.

The abutment carried by the plate 1, has its outstanding flange member 11 bent at the uppermost portion 12 to extend in spaced parallelism with the flange 13, by which the abutment is secured to the plate 1, an opening being provided through the point of intersection of the flanges 11. and 13 whereby a shoulder 14 is thus formed. Pivotally connected to the plate 2 and the upper end of the abutment l0 thereon is an elongated handle or lever 15 which passes between the flange 13 and the parallel portion 12 of the flange 11 and which is pro vided with suitable gripping means 16. ,By means of this lever 15, the plate 2 may be adjusted either in the direction of the plate 1 or away from the latter as occasion demands, although an angular extension 17 formed along the top edge of the lever as shown will, by striking against the member 12, limit the contractual movement of the plates 1 and 2. The extension 17 also serves as a weight upon the lever for maintaining it in its locked position but to effectually lock the respective plates 1 and 2 against any displacement after they have once been adjusted to the desired width, teeth 18 are arranged upon the lever in proximity to the gripping means 16 and engage the shoulder 14, 1

When it is desirable to apply the invention to an irrigating ditch of an unusual width, the plates 1 and 2 are placed in the ditch so that their lower ends become embedded in the bed, after which the lever 15 is raised so that the teeth 18 thereof are out of engagement with. the shoulder let and the plate 2 is adjusted in the direction of the side of the ditch adjacent thereto until the side 9 thereof has also embedded itself therein, its movement in this direction being limited by the abutment plate 11. When both I plates have been expanded to the desired position, they may be locked 'in place by dropping the lever 15 until the teeth 18 thereof engage the shoulder 14 as previously explained.

From the above it will be thus understood that I have provided a device which may be readily adjusted to fit any size ditch and which will effectively obstruct the flow of watertherethrough while at the same time being adapted to be readily removed therefrom. It is also to be understood that while the present disclosure is that of what I believe to be the preferred embodiment of the What I cl aim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A means for damming streams including a pair of pivotally connected plates adapted to be disposed transversely of the watercourse and, depressed into the bed thereof, a lever carried by one of said plates, laterally extending abutments provided on said plates respectively for limiting their movement into the banks and bed of the said watercourse, and means carried by said lever and engaging one of said abutments for locking said plates in their adjusted positions.

2. A means for damming streams including a pair of plates pivotally connected at their lower extremities, said plates being partially embedded in the banks of the stream to be dammed, a flange extending from one side of each of said plates, said flanges being positioned in proximity to the outer edge, forming an abutment for limiting the penetration of the plates into the banks of the stream, and means carried by one of said plates and engaging one of said flanges for locking the plates in their adjusted position.

3. In a means for damming streams including a pair of oppositely disposed plates having their inner opposing ends bearing laterally against each other, means for pivotally joining said plates at the lowermost portions, flanges carried by corresponding faces 'ofsaid plates and near one edge thereof for limiting the penetration of said plates into the earth, one ofsaid flanges being cut away near the top edge of one of the plates,

a lever carried by the other of saidplates,

and passing through said cut away portion for locking the plates intheir adjusted rela-v tive positions. j V

a. A means for damming streams including a pair of oppositely disposed pivotally connected plates adapted to be embedded into the banks and bed of the stream, and having their inner traversing ends in lateral con tact with each other, abutments attached to each of said plates near their outer edges and contiguous thereto, a lever pivotally supported on one of said plates, a cut away portion on the abutment of the other of said plates near the top edge thereof through which the pivoted :lever passes, said. lever having teeth thereon engaging the edge of the out away-portion, for locking the plates in their relative adjusted positions.

5. A means for damming streams includ ing a pair of oppositely disposed pivotally connected plates adapted to be embedded into the banks and bed of the stream, and having their inner traversing ends in lateral contact witheach other, abutments attached to each of said platesnear their outer edges and contiguous thereto; a lever piv otally supported on one of said plates, a slot the movement of the lever, in a. horizontal in the abutment oi the other of said plates plane. 10 near the top edge thereof through which the In testimony whereof I aflix my signature pivoted lever passes, said lever having teeth in presence of two witnesses.

thereon engaging the edge of the cut away FRANK E. HOOVER. portion, for locking the plates in their rela- WVitnesses:

tive adjusted positions, and means on the J. B. WIGHT,

lever near the top edge thereof for limiting Mrs. J. B. TIGHT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

